Many women find they have a very stiff or "frozen shoulder" about one month after breast surgery, such as mastectomy. Frozen shoulder has less to do with the actual breast surgery than the lymph node dissection. When lymph nodes are removed from under the armpit, it is very common for the armpit area to be tender. Your normal reaction is to keep your arm still, so you will not feel pain. But, by not moving your arm, you are allowing your arm and shoulder muscles to weaken and your tendons and ligaments to tighten. In time, you may find that you can barely lift your arm. An immobile arm can lead to frozen shoulder—an extremely painful condition in which the arm joint becomes locked.
The good news is that frozen shoulder can be prevented, and if necessary, reversed. If you feel soreness under the armpit, start with gentle exercises — try climbing your fingers up the wall or circling your arms.
Swimming is one of the best exercises you can do for an immobile arm and frozen shoulder, because swimming does not put any weight on the arm. The YWCA offers a wonderful program called ENCORE for women who have had breast cancer surgery. The ENCORE program employs specific exercises in a pool to help women recover range of motion and rebuild strength. |
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